I visited "Hirose Shokudo" in Kurume City for the first time in a while. The ramen costs 750 yen... What, 750 yen?! It's gone up by 200 yen since four and a half years ago?! I remember it being 450 yen ten years ago?! The set with fried rice also jumped up from 1100 yen to 1500 yen!! Well, let's focus... The lady in charge of the fried rice is still there. She's gotten a lot quieter, but she still makes the popular fried rice by banging the wok on the stove. It's not my favorite because it has too much onion. As they have been saying for years, there is a shortage of staff, so it took almost 15 minutes to be served this time, but it was understandable given the long line. The soup is served brimming with flavor. It still has a strong flavor without being too fishy. The saltiness was more pronounced this time. I couldn't finish it, but many customers might prefer this saltiness. The medium-thin noodles matched well with the soup. They were served with a normal firmness, which was good. The pork shoulder chashu was tasty, but I remember the one at "Okishokudo" having more meaty flavor. It's definitely recommended, but with this price, I might choose the ramen from "Daikan Ramen". It's even more delicious, cheaper at 680 yen, and served faster. I left the restaurant thinking, "This might be my last visit."

I had a big bowl of ramen (1000 yen) with an extra serving of noodles (150 yen) for brunch at 10 o'clock! It was so delicious, I couldn't stop slurping it up. But when a menu clearly says "no fried rice," it actually makes me want to try it even more.

I visited this ramen shop in Kurume City because it was highly rated on Tabelog. I arrived around 2:30 pm and was worried because it said they would close once the soup ran out at 10:30 pm. However, I made it just in time and was able to get in without waiting. The menu was simple, the owner was friendly, and the ramen was light at first but the flavor kept getting richer. Everything was delicious and satisfying.

I visited this place for the first time in about 30 years. I don't get to visit Kurume often, so I rarely have the chance to eat ramen here. I always wanted to come back, but there was always a long line, so I couldn't make it. Today, I skipped breakfast at the hotel and purposely went after the opening hours. It seems that there has been a change in ownership and the prices have gone up, but that's understandable. The nostalgic taste remains the same, thank you very much.

I was thinking about what to eat for lunch after finishing my errands, and I remembered a restaurant called Hirose Shokudo that I had been curious about! They open at 10:30, but I arrived a bit early and waited in the parking lot. The owner let me in at 10:00. I was interested in their fried rice, but they weren't serving it that day. Since I was dining alone, I ordered ramen. I was worried it might be heavy, but it turned out to be light and easy to eat! I couldn't tell if they were a couple, but they greeted me warmly, which left a good impression.

If asked about my favorite ramen shop in Kurume, I would say Hirose Shokudo. The soup is delicious! It's not too pork bone-heavy, has a sweetness to it, and is rich without being overpowering. It's clearly different from shops that rely on the pork bone flavor or richness to mask other flavors. I highly recommend trying it. It's really a shame that the fried rice is no longer available. It's understandable due to the shortage of staff, but I hope it makes a comeback. The old man's favorite is the Oosu Ramen and small rice set, which costs exactly 1000 yen.

Wow, it's been so long, maybe over 10 years. When I came back after a long time, the ramen was amazing. But 850 yen is a bit expensive, isn't it? And they didn't even have fried rice. Hmm, eating ramen soup and fried rice together used to be the best. Anyway, the old-fashioned delicious ramen was great. Thank you for the meal. ^_^

The ramen was quite light. Personally, I had expected Kurume ramen to be rich, so I was a little disappointed. The price has gone up. It was served in about 5 minutes. Maybe it got faster because the fried rice is no longer available? There is a parking lot. Thank you for the meal.

I came to Kurume because I wanted to eat ramen at Ramen Hachi, but unfortunately it was closed on the day I went. I ended up finding this place nearby. There is parking space in front of the shop for about 6 cars. I had high expectations due to the good reviews on Tabelog, but unfortunately it wasn't to my liking. It seems to be a place loved by locals. They don't offer extra noodles, and if you want a large portion, it costs 1,000 yen. The cost performance is not very good. It may be due to the rising cost of wheat.

I had a business trip to Kurume, so I decided to head over a little early to try the Kurume ramen that had high ratings on Tabelog. The restaurant didn't have a sign outside, but there was a note saying "No yakimeshi today" which helped me locate it. The place was almost full, but I managed to get a seat at the counter without waiting. It seems they weren't serving yakimeshi due to short staff. I ordered the standard ramen (750 yen) and a small side of rice (100 yen). After about 10 minutes, my ramen arrived. It came with a light tonkotsu soup, thin noodles, 3 slices of chashu, and sliced boiled egg on top. The soup was typical of Kurume ramen, light tonkotsu flavor, but I personally prefer it a bit richer. The small rice was actually a regular size. I managed to finish it with the pickled vegetables provided on a separate table. Overall, I was a bit disappointed as I was expecting more flavor punch.

I visited the store right after it opened. Luckily, there was an empty parking space in front of the store. When I tried to enter, the automatic door said "Please open with your hand"... The door was really heavy. The friendly owner energetically took my ramen order.

Received items: Large ramen 900 yen, Small rice 100 yen *All prices include tax Recommended by a regular customer, I visited this famous restaurant with long lines for the first time. It seems that they used to have various menu items including fried rice, but now they only offer ramen and white rice. The door is manual, there is free Fukujinzuke pickles on the central table, and red pickled ginger and pepper on the counter table. It's recommended to warm up the super generous serving of char siu in the soup before eating. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I researched this ramen restaurant based on the delicious-looking fried rice photo, but they no longer sell fried rice and only offer ramen and white rice now. The ramen looks impressive when it arrives, with a light soup that is contrary to its appearance. It's a bit disappointing that it's not the rich style typical of Kurume ramen.

Today's destination is here~. When it comes to Kurume, it's all about ramen! Among the countless shops in the city, Hirose Shokudo was on my must-visit list. Due to the perfect timing and location, I visited around 1:30 pm on a weekday. I had the image that there would be a long line, but in reality, there were only about 2 groups of customers ahead of me. Perhaps due to the heavy snowfall from the recent cold wave, it was a bit surprising. I took a seat at the counter and ordered... - Ramen 750 yen/tax included The bowl arrived in about 3-4 minutes, and a pleasant pork bone aroma wafted into my nose. I took a sip of the soup... ah, I see. Although it looks rich, the straight pork bone umami hits first, followed by a sticky oiliness that quickly disappears without a trace. It's light and I feel like I could eat multiple servings haha. I was very pleased with the generous amount of green onions! They were crunchy and delicious when eaten with the noodles. I ordered the noodles extra firm. They had a smooth and slippery texture, with a satisfying firmness that paired excellently with the soup. Thank you for the meal! This was my first time trying Kurume ramen in its hometown, and it's different from the heavy Hakata tonkotsu ramen. It's more similar to Nagahama ramen. I plan to try Kurume ramen from a few other shops as well. *Visit rating → 3.65

Today I went around Kurume to give New Year's greetings. The wind was cold, the rain was cold, and the temperature was in the single digits. Without hesitation, I chose ramen, and headed to Hirose Shokudo. I was a bit disappointed that they didn't have fried rice, but I enjoyed the large serving of ramen for 900 yen. The Kurume ramen had a light taste, with plenty of pork slices, and it was delicious! Tasty! Generous portion! I will definitely come back!

"The 'Ooramen' menu at Hirose has finally removed the yakimeshi. Looking back at the past, dishes like champon, yakisoba, chandon, udon, etc... my favorite menu items are disappearing one by one. It must have been difficult to provide everything that was so delicious. And now, even the yakimeshi is gone. What's even sadder is that since they stopped serving yakimeshi, there are no more long lines. The ramen is delicious too. The taste has evolved over time, with the sweetness of the soup giving way to more saltiness and the thickness of the chashu. Hirose is always the best. That's why I will continue to come here to enjoy this bowl. A cafeteria filled with all the memories of youth. I love it."

On November 4, 2022 (Friday), I visited a restaurant that had been on my list for a while as my second stop of the day. This place is a long-standing establishment in the Kurume ramen scene, known as a "diner-style" shop, celebrating its 64th year in business. When I arrived at 10:33 am, there were only a few seats available inside. I ordered the "ramen" and in just 4 minutes, the eagerly awaited bowl of ramen was served. The soup, a murky brown color with tiny oil droplets floating on top, was topped with chashu, seaweed, boiled egg, and chopped green onions on thin noodles. As I took my first sip of the soup, I was greeted with a gentle soy sauce flavor and a light, clear dashi taste that spread throughout my mouth. While the umami and saltiness of the broth were subtle, they didn't feel forcefully enhanced by artificial seasonings. Though there was a hint of aged aroma, the overall flavor profile seemed quite delicate. When I tried just the top layer of the soup, a subtle garlicky fragrance lingered on my tongue. Moving on to the noodles, they boasted a smooth texture typical of high-hydration noodles, along with a dense wheat flavor characteristic of low-hydration noodles. The thin noodles were well-coated in the soup, enhancing the sweetness of the wheat with a subtle saltiness in the background. Trying the chashu next, I found the fatty pork shoulder slices to be just the right thickness. The lean meat maintained a juicy resilience without becoming dry, and the slight seasoning added depth to the meaty flavor. In conclusion, I must admit that my inexperienced palate failed to fully appreciate the charm of this taste. I plan to revisit and try the specialty "yakimeshi" alongside a more seasoned palate for Kyushu tonkotsu ramen. Thank you for the meal.

I visited this popular restaurant and tried their ramen and fried rice, both of which were delicious. I was surprised by the total bill of 3000 yen for two ramen and one fried rice for two people. I don't think it's worth paying such a high price. I found it strange that we had to wait in line for almost 20 minutes. I don't think it's necessary to spend a lot of money to eat here. The cost performance is poor. The taste is just average, and you can find similar dishes in Fukuoka without waiting in line. Apparently, people from Kurume think this is the best option.

Kurume business trip, a popular restaurant recommended by someone from Kurume. When I looked it up, it had a high rating of 3.66 on Tabelog! I was excited to see what kind of place it was. I relied on the map and drove there, but after circling around multiple times, I ended up parking nearby and walking to finally find it. It was on the first floor of a mixed building with no signboard. It was a bit tricky to find. I arrived before 1 pm and was able to enter without much of a wait, which was a relief. I sat at the counter and looked at the menu on the wall. They only had "ramen" and "fried rice." There were six sets with variations like "large" or "basic." I couldn't decide between ramen and fried rice, so I chose the "ramen and fried rice set" for 1,500 yen. By the way, ordering a set was 40 yen cheaper than ordering each item separately. The restaurant was probably run by a family of three, with the grandmother cooking the fried rice, the husband making the ramen, and the wife handling other tasks. After a short wait, the dishes arrived. The fried rice was huge and piled up! Can I finish it? The ramen soup was just enough in the bowl! The taste was... the ramen was tonkotsu (pork bone) but on the lighter side. It had a hidden character with seaweed, giving it a Japanese taste. It was easier to eat and delicious. The noodles were thicker than the typical Hakata ramen, which I preferred. The fried rice was fluffy and well-cooked. It may not have used high-end ingredients or seasonings, but it was tasty. With the generous portion, it was a dish meant for those with a big appetite. The previous customers couldn't finish their set orders and ended up taking most of it home with aluminum foil and plastic bags provided by the restaurant. I managed to finish my meal with a full stomach. After finishing, the line had grown longer than when I arrived. It was incredibly popular, which was fantastic. Thank you for the meal.

Visited the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen in Kurume on August 27, 2022, to taste the roots of diner-style ramen! ~ Hirose Shokudo ~ Took the Nishitetsu train from Tenjin to Kurume! Arrived around 1 pm, and had a late lunch of Kurume ramen! After researching, decided to visit "Hirose Shokudo," a long-established diner-style Kurume ramen shop celebrating its 64th year. Ordered the regular firmness noodles!! The menu only offers ramen and fried rice. Observing others' orders, noticed that everyone was ordering fried rice but leaving some to take home, so decided to skip it this time (laughs). The soup was a milky type with a thin, creamy white color. The slightly cloudy soup had tiny oil droplets floating on top, with chashu, seaweed, thinly sliced boiled egg, and chopped green onions on the thin noodles. The first bite was not very impactful, but as I continued to eat, the umami flavor kept increasing! Oh, it was incredibly delicious!! [Reference 1] The fried rice was a crispy type, well stir-fried! Customers who couldn't finish their meal were seen packing it with aluminum foil and plastic bags provided in the center of the shop for takeout! [Reference 2] Established in 1958. Along with the related "Okin Shokudo," it is said to be the roots of the diner-style in Kurume! #FukuokaGourmet #KurumeGourmet #KurumeRamen #LateLunch #SecondBowlToday #TonkotsuRamen

During my student days, I used to frequent a local restaurant called Hirose Shokudo. When the topic of this restaurant came up with my friends recently, I realized I hadn't been there in a while. I was surprised to see that the prices had gone up significantly. A ramen and fried rice set now costs 1,500 yen. Back in my student days, I wouldn't have been able to afford it. The milky soup brought back memories. The Kurume-style noodles were not too thin, and the hard-boiled egg was just right. The set meal was quite filling. Eating it at this age definitely fills you up, but it was nostalgic. I heard a story about Yacchan Ramen in Yakuin raising their prices significantly due to being too busy, but even then, they didn't lose customers at night. This place still had lines during the day, so it seems like they are doing well in terms of business.